The Slope-Intercept Form

7.1

OBJECTIVES

7.1

1. Find the slope and y intercept from the equation of a line

2. Given the slope and y intercept, write the equation of a line
3. Use the slope and y intercept to graph a line

In Chapter 6, we used two points to find the slope of a line. In this chapter we will use the
slope to find the graph of an equation.
First, we want to consider finding the equation of a line when its slope and y intercept
are known.
Suppose that the y intercept of a line is (0, b). Then the point at which the line crosses
the y axis has coordinates (0, b). Look at the sketch at left.
Now, using any other point (x, y) on the line and using our definition of slope, we can
write

(x, y)

yb

Change in y.

(0, b)
x0
x

m

yb
x0

(1)
Change in x.

or
m

yb
x

(2)

Multiplying both sides of equation (2) by x, we have

mx  y  b

(3)

Finally, adding b to both sides of equation (3) gives

mx  b  y
or
y  mx  b

(4)

We can summarize the above discussion as follows:

NOTE In this form, the
equation is solved for y. The
coefficient of x will give you the
slope of the line, and the
constant term gives the y
intercept.

Definitions: The Slope-Intercept Form for a Line

An equation of the line with slope m and y intercept (0, b) is

y  mx  b

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Example 1
Finding the Slope and y Intercept
Find the slope and y intercept for the graph of the equation
2
y x5
3
m

2
The slope of the line is  ; the y intercept is (0, 5).
3
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CHAPTER 7

GRAPHING AND INEQUALITIES

CHECK YOURSELF 1
Find the slope and y intercept for the graph of each of the following equations.

(a) y  3x  7

(b) y 

3
x5
4

As Example 2 illustrates, we may have to solve for y as the first step in determining the
slope and the y intercept for the graph of an equation.
Example 2
Finding the Slope and y Intercept
Find the slope and y intercept for the graph of the equation
3x  2y  6
First, we must solve the equation for y.
3x  2y  6

as
y

2y  3x  6

3x  6
2

3
y x3
2

it is more difficult to identify

the slope and the intercept.

Add (3x) to both sides.

Divide each term by 2.

3
The equation is now in slope-intercept form. The slope is  , and the y intercept is (0, 3).
2
CHECK YOURSELF 2
Find the slope and y intercept for the graph of the equation

2x  5y  10
As we mentioned earlier, knowing certain properties of a line (namely, its slope and
y intercept) will also allow us to write the equation of the line by using the slope-intercept
form. Example 3 illustrates this approach.
Example 3
Writing the Equation of a Line
3
Write the equation of a line with slope  and y intercept (0, 3).
4
3
We know that m   and b  3. In this case,
4
m

3
y   x  (3)
4
or
3
y x3
4
which is the desired equation.

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NOTE If we write the equation

THE SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM

SECTION 7.1

557

CHECK YOURSELF 3
Write the equation of a line with the following:

(a) slope 2 and y intercept (0, 7)

(b) slope

2
and y intercept (0, 3)
3

We can also use the slope and y intercept of a line in drawing its graph. Consider
Example 4.

Example 4
Graphing a Line
2
and y intercept (0, 2).
3
Because the y intercept is (0, 2), we begin by plotting the point (0, 2). Because the
horizontal change (or run) is 3, we move 3 units to the right from that y intercept. Then
because the vertical change (or rise) is 2, we move 2 units up to locate another point on the
desired graph. Note that we will have located that second point at (3, 4). The final step is to
simply draw a line through that point and the y intercept.
Graph the line with slope

NOTE

2
rise
m 
3
run

(3, 4)

The line rises from left to right

because the slope is positive.

Rise  2
(0, 2)

Run  3

The equation of this line is y 

x

2
x  2.
3

CHECK YOURSELF 4

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Graph the equation of a line with slope

Step by Step:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5

3
and y intercept (0, 2).
5

Graphing by Using the Slope-Intercept Form

Write the original equation of the line in slope-intercept form.

Determine the slope m and the y intercept (0, b).
Plot the y intercept at (0, b).
Use m (the change in y over the change in x) to determine a second
point on the desired line.
Draw a line through the two points determined above to complete the
graph.

CHAPTER 7

GRAPHING AND INEQUALITIES

You have now seen two methods for graphing lines: the slope-intercept method
(Section 7.1) and the intercept method (Section 6.3). When you graph a linear equation,
you should first decide which is the appropriate method.

Example 5
Selecting an Appropriate Graphing Method
Decide which of the two methods for graphing linesthe intercept method or the slopeintercept methodis more appropriate for graphing equations (a), (b), and (c).
(a) 2x  5y  10
Because both intercepts are easy to find, you should choose the intercept method to graph
this equation.
(b) 2x  y  6
This equation can be quickly graphed by either method. As it is written, you might choose
the intercept method. It can, however, be rewritten as y  2x  6. In that case the slopeintercept method is more appropriate.
(c) y 

1
x4
4

Because the equation is in slope-intercept form, that is the more appropriate method to
choose.

CHECK YOURSELF 5
Which would be more appropriate for graphing each equation, the intercept
method or the slope-intercept method?

(a) x  y  2

(b) 3x  2y  12

1
(c) y   x  6
2

CHECK YOURSELF ANSWERS

3
1. (a) Slope is 3, y intercept is (0, 7); (b) Slope is , y intercept is (0, 5)
4
2
2
2. y  x  2; the slope is ; the y intercept is (0, 2)
5
5
2
3. (a) y  2x  7; (b) y  x  3
3
y
4.
5. (a) Either; (b) intercept; (c) slope-intercept
3

(5, 1)

y  5 x2
x
Rise  3

(0, 2)
Run  5

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Name

Exercises

7.1

Section

Date

Find the slope and y intercept of the line represented by each of the following equations.
1. y  3x  5

ANSWERS

2. y  7x  3

1.
3. y  2x  5

4. y  5x  2

2.
3.

3
5. y  x  1
4

7. y 

6. y  4x

2
x
3

4.

5.

3
5

8. y   x  2

6.
9. 4x  3y  12

10. 2x  5y  10

11. y  9

12. 2x  3y  6

13. 3x  2y  8

14. x  5

7.

8.

9.

10.

Write the equation of the line with given slope and y intercept. Then graph each line,
using the slope and y intercept.

11.

16. Slope: 2; y intercept: (0, 4)

15. Slope: 3; y intercept: (0, 5)

12.

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13.
14.
x

15.
16.

559

ANSWERS
17.

17. Slope: 3; y intercept: (0, 4)

18. Slope: 5; y intercept: (0, 2)

18.
y

19.
20.
21.

22.

1
2

3
4

19. Slope: ; y intercept: (0, 2)

20. Slope:  ; y intercept: (0, 8)

2
3

2
3

21. Slope:  ; y intercept: (0, 0)

22. Slope: ; y intercept: (0, 2)

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560

ANSWERS
3
4

24. Slope: 3; y intercept: (0, 0)

23. Slope: ; y intercept: (0, 3)

y

23.
24.

25.
26.
x

27.
28.

In exercises 25 to 32, match the graph with one of the equations below.
(a) y  2x,

(b) y  x  1,
2
(f) y  x  1,
3

(e) y  3x  2,

25.

(c) y  x  3,
3
(g) y   x  1,
4

(d) y  2x  1,
(h) y  4x

26.
y

27.

28.
y

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561

ANSWERS
29.

29.

30.

30.
y

31.
32.
33.
x

34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
31.

39.

32.
y

40.

562

33. y  2x  1

34. y  3x  2

35. y  x  1

36. y  2x  5

37. y  2x  5

38. y  5x  7

39. y  3

40. x  2

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In which quadrant(s) are there no solutions for each line?

ANSWERS
41. Recycling. The equation y  0.10x  200 describes the award money in a recycling

41.

contest. What are the slope and the y intercept for this equation?
42.
42. Fundraising. The equation y  15x  100 describes the amount of money a high

school class might earn from a paper drive. What are the slope and y intercept for this
equation?

43.
44.
45.

43. Science. On a certain February day in Philadelphia, the temperature at 6:00 A.M. was

10F. By 2:00 P.M. the temperature was up to 26F. What was the hourly rate of
temperature change?

46.

47.
44. Slope of a roof. A roof rises 8.75 feet (ft) in a horizontal distance of 15.09 ft. Find

the slope of the roof to the nearest hundredth.

48.
45. Slope of airplane descent. An airplane covered 15 miles (mi) of its route while

decreasing its altitude by 24,000 ft. Find the slope of the line of descent that was
followed. (1 mi  5280 ft.) Round to the nearest hundredth.

49.

46. Slope of road descent. Driving down a mountain, Tom finds that he has descended

1800 ft in elevation by the time he is 3.25 mi horizontally away from the top of the
mountain. Find the slope of his descent to the nearest hundredth.

47. Complete the following statement: The difference between undefined slope and zero

slope is . . . .

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48. Complete the following: The slope of a line tells you . . . .

49. In a study on nutrition conducted in 1984, 18 normal adults aged 23 to 61 years old

were measured for body fat, which is given as percentage of weight. The mean
(average) body fat percentage for women 40 years old was 28.6 percent, and for
women 53 years old was 38.4 percent. Work with a partner to decide how to show
this information on a scatterplot. Try to find a linear equation that will tell you
percentage of body fat based on a womans age. What does your equation give for
20 years of age? For 60? Do you think a linear model works well for predicting body
fat percentage in women as they age?

563

ANSWERS

50. On two occasions last month, Sam Johnson rented a car on a business trip. Both

50.
y

times it was the same model from the same company, and both times it was in
San Francisco. Sam now has to fill out an expense account form and needs to know
how much he was charged per mile and the base rate. On both occasions he dropped
the car at the airport booth and just got the total charge, not the details. All Sam
knows is that he was charged $210 for 625 miles on the first occasion and $133.50
for 370 miles on the second trip. Sam has called accounting to ask for help. Plot these
two points on a graph, and draw the line that goes through them. What question does
the slope of the line answer for Sam? How does the y intercept help? Write a memo
to Sam explaining the answers to his question and how a knowledge of algebra and
graphing has helped you find the answers.

51.
51. On the same graph, sketch the following lines:

y  2x  1
x

52.

and y  2x  3

What do you observe about these graphs? Will the lines intersect?

52. Repeat exercise 51 using

y

y  2x  4

and y  2x  1

53. On the same graph, sketch the following lines:

53.

y

2
x and
3

3
y x
2

54. Repeat exercise 53 using

54.

y
564

4
x and
3

3
y x
4

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What do you observe concerning these graphs? Find the product of the slopes of
these two lines.

ANSWERS
55.

55. Based on exercises 53 and 54, write the equation of a line that is perpendicular to

y

3
x
5

a.
b.
c.
d.

Getting Ready for Section 7.2 [Section 6.4]

e.

Find the slope of the line connecting the given points.

(a) (4, 6) and (3, 20)
(d) (2, 8) and (2, 5)

(b) (2, 8) and (6, 8)

(e) (6, 9) and (3, 9)

(c) (5, 7) and (5, 3)

(f ) (4, 6) and (4, 2)

f.

Answers
1. Slope 3, y intercept (0, 5)

3
5. Slope , y intercept (0, 1)
4
4
9. Slope  , y intercept (0, 4)
3
3
13. Slope , y intercept (0, 4)
2
15. y  3x  5

3. Slope 2, y intercept (0, 5)

2
3

7. Slope , y intercept (0, 0)

11. Slope 0, y intercept (0, 9)

17. y  3x  4
y

19. y 

1
x2
2

2
3

21. y   x

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565

23. y 

3
x3
4
y

25. g
27. e
39. III and IV
45. 0.30

51.

29. h
31. c
33. IV
35. III
37. I
41. Slope  0.10; y intercept  (0, 200)
43. 2/hr

47.

49.

53. Perpendicular lines; 1

Parallel lines; no
y

y  32 x
y  2x  3

5
3

a. 2

y   32 x

b. 2

c. 1

d. Undefined

e. 0

f. 1

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55. y   x

y  2x  1

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